Domestic violence causes the U.S. to lose $1.8 billion in work productivity annually. To increase the awareness of the detrimental effects of domestic violence on the workplace, the New York Women's Agenda created the New York Breaks the Silence Together corporate initiative with support from the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, Altria Group, Inc. and Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence in 2004. This initiative provided resources to employers to help implement work place policies to address the issue of domestic violence.